How to prepare for 'The Big One'

75 People Killed in 2023 Traffic Crashes

Two more people died of injuries sustained during car crashes, raising the total number of people killed in Portland traffic last year to 75 — according to Portland Police Bureau stats. That’s the highest number since 1986. [KGW]

Advances in Coffee Academics

Apparently, the Northwest’s coffee obsession extends to academia: A University of Oregon professor nicknamed Dr. Coffee teamed up with volcanologists (that’s experts who study volcanic eruptions) to advance the study of coffee preparation. They determined that adding at least one drop of water before you grind beans can lead to less mess, because of the static electricity. [OPB]

Portland Still Needs Earthquake-Prepping

Downtown has a bunch of brick buildings that still need seismic upgrades, and Northwest Portland has fuel farms. But at least the Burnside Bridge is slated for earthquake renovations soon. Science journalist Erin Ross provides an update on how bad the Cascadia subduction zone earthquake could be for the city. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Sea Turtle Rescue

Over the weekend, Seaside Aquarium staff rescued an endangered green sea turtle from the beach at Manzanita. Aquarium staff cautioned that turtles found on Oregon beaches often don’t survive hypothermia and other conditions. Squirt (as staff nicknamed the 22-lb. female turtle) will ultimately be released to the wild if she’s nursed back to health. [Oregonian]

It’s only a slight exaggeration to say I moved here for the Columbia Gorge.

This week, I’m again appreciating Portland for its proximity to nature even in January.

The gorge is stunning any time of year. The grays of rainy season are dreary on city streets, but not far east of town, they can be delightful. This past weekend, I counted roughly a thousand shades of gray, from near-white of the fog, to the blue-green-gray slate of the Columbia, to the dark charcoal of rock formations, and everything in between.

It helps that the gray gives way to a rainbow of luminous greens along the trails. (Who knew one color came in so many varieties?) Trees wear a shaggy, mossy Pacific Northwest dress that makes them seem like fuzzy monsters about to come alive. The rocks shine with a fluorescent green frill. And the waterfalls are blasting. What could be better?

How about you? Are you finding ways to get out in nature this season? What do you recommend? Or have you holed up with a new favorite movie or show?

How to Prepare for ‘The Big One’

Scientists say we’re long overdue for a devastatingly large earthquake. They predict it could be big enough to bring down most of Portland’s bridges and cut off electricity and water for weeks. Science journalist Erin Ross provides an update on experts’ latest Cascadia earthquake predictions and shares tips on how to keep you and your family safe.